Wednesday, September 5, 2012

In a previous post, I addressed that initial struggle with anatomical terminology when beginning a course in anatomy & physiology. In this post, I'll pick up with another early--but essential--set of concepts: planes of the body.

As with any concept of A&P, one shortcut to understanding is to connect the concept to something simple that you already know about. Let's see how that could work with anatomical body planes.

If
you saw a person so that there is a top part and bottom part of their
body, then you’ve cut along a TRANSVERSE or HORIZONTAL plane. Either
term can be used. They both mean the same thing. It doesn’t have to be
equal top and bottom halves . . . ANY separation of top and bottom is a
cut along a transverse plane.

If
you saw a person into left and right pieces, you are sawing along a
SAGITTAL plane. The word sagittal literally means “relating to an
arrow” used in archery. So imagine shooting an arrow into an apple that
is sitting on top of my head . . . and then imagine the apple falling
apart into a left and right piece as the arrow slices through it.
That’s a sagittal cut . . . a cut along a sagittal plane.

If
the sagittal plane is exactly in the middle, dividing the body along
its midline into equal left and right halves, we call that plane a
MIDSAGITTAL plane. If instead the plane is off to one side or another,
splitting the body into unequal pieces, it’s simply called a SAGITTAL
plan.

If you saw a person into front and back pieces, you are cutting along a FRONTAL plane or CORONAL plane.

Again, seeing this visually is a good idea.

First, study the images of body planes in your A&P textbook and lab manual. If you are using one of my textbooks or manuals, you can find a handy diagram of the planes of the body just inside the front or back cover. By looking at many different diagrams, you'll get a better understanding of the essential concept of body planes . . . as well as plenty of practice.

Try constructing a three-dimensional "paper doll" model that resembles the diagram shown here. Or any kind of simple, hands-on model. Such activities may seem like a childish project, but it engages many parts of your brain and thus strengthens your learning . . . and your memory.

You may find this FREE mini-course to be helpful. It's called simply Anatomical Directions and it's provided as a free service from Insight Medical Academy. It requires a free registration to use the course, so be sure to register before trying to access the course. Here's a brief video explaining how the free course works.

About Me

I've worked as an anatomy & physiology professor for several decades, having taught at high school, community college, and university levels. I write A&P textbooks and manuals. I am a President Emeritus of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) and a founder of HAPS Institute, a continuing education program for A&P professors. I have several blogs, websites, & a podcast related to teaching and learning. And in my youth I was a wild animal trainer.